JP2012230547A - Print system, print data generation device, processor, printing method, computer program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system, a print data generation device, a processor, a printing method, a computer program and a printing medium capable of generating optimum print data for a printer actually used and enhancing the transmitting/receiving speed and the printing speed.SOLUTION: A print data determining section 108 determines whether to generate shared print data which is printable by a plurality of printing functions or exclusive print data which is printable by only one print function, on the basis of information regarding print functions of each of a plurality of print devices. A print data generating section 109 generates the shared print data or the exclusive print data on the basis of the result of determination by the determining section 108.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system that generates print data that can be printed by one or more printing apparatuses, a printing data generation apparatus, a processing apparatus, a printing method, a computer program, and a recording medium.

  Conventionally, when printing original data created using a data generating apparatus capable of creating original data such as a document or a picture, for example, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC), it is installed in the PC in advance. The printer driver generates print data that can be printed by the printer based on the created document data, and outputs the generated print data to the printer.

  In recent years, a plurality of printers of different models and a PC are connected via a network, and a printer to be used is selected in consideration of the content and amount of the document. For example, in the case where a diagram composed of a plurality of colors is included, a printer capable of color printing is selected, and when a large amount of documents are created, a printer capable of printing at high speed is selected. If the selected printer is abnormal and cannot be printed, for example, if a paper jam has occurred, another printer is selected.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing system that includes a printer, a server computer, and a plurality of printer hosts. In this printing system, the printer driver setting in the network printing system can be updated by changing the printer host driver setting remotely from the server computer.

JP 2005-165713 A

  However, in such a printing system having a printer, a server, and a PC, a printer that performs printing is not determined until the actual printing is performed, and therefore a plurality of PCs that create print data are used in the printing system. It is necessary to create print data that can be printed by all types of printers.

  For example, in order to print on both a color printer / monochrome printer, the print data needs to be color print data. However, even if the actually selected printer is a monochrome printer, the generated color print data must be transmitted to the server and stored in advance. Compared to monochrome print data that is optimal for a monochrome printer, color print data has a larger file size, which causes a problem that it takes time to communicate and print print data with a server.

  In the case of a color printer, a color profile may be required to obtain the optimum output for each model. However, since the printer model to be used is unknown at the time of creating print data, there are multiple models. There are cases where it is necessary to use a usable profile, and optimal print data cannot be obtained for each model.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to generate print data that is optimal for a printer that is to execute print processing, and to increase the transmission / reception speed and the printing speed. A printing system, a print data generation device, a processing device, a printing method, a computer program, and a recording medium are provided.

  A printing system according to the present invention includes a plurality of printing apparatuses and a print data generation unit that generates print data that can be printed by one or more printing apparatuses. And determining means for determining whether to generate shared print data that can be printed by a plurality of printing functions or to generate dedicated print data that can be printed by one printing function, based on such information, the print data generating means Is characterized in that the shared print data or the dedicated print data is generated based on the determination result of the determination means.

  In the present invention, the deciding means generates shared print data that can be printed by a plurality of printing functions or can be printed by one printing function based on information relating to the printing functions of the plurality of printing apparatuses. Whether to generate dedicated print data is determined, and the print data generation unit generates shared print data or dedicated print data based on the determination result of the determination unit.

  In the printing system according to the present invention, the determination unit determines generation of the dedicated print data when the information related to the printing functions belonging to the same type of the plurality of printing apparatuses match, and the same type The generation of the shared print data is determined when the information relating to the print function belonging to the above does not match.

  In the present invention, the determining means determines the generation of the dedicated print data when all the information related to the printing functions belonging to the same type of a plurality of printing apparatuses match, and the printing belonging to the same type If the information relating to the functions does not match, the generation of the shared print data is determined.

  The printing system according to the present invention registers a plurality of users and the plurality of printing apparatuses, sets setting means for setting availability / non-usability of each printing apparatus for each user, acquires user information, and sets the settings And a determining unit that determines a printing device that can be used by a user related to the acquired information among the plurality of printing devices based on setting of the unit, and the determining unit determines the printing device determined by the determining unit Whether to generate the shared print data or the dedicated print data is determined based on the information relating to the print function.

  In the present invention, the setting means registers a plurality of users and a plurality of printing apparatuses, and sets whether each printing apparatus can be used or not for each user. The determination unit acquires user information, and determines a printing device that can be used by the user according to the acquired information from the plurality of printing devices based on the setting of the setting unit. The determining unit determines whether to generate shared print data or dedicated print data based on information relating to the printing function of the printing apparatus determined by the determining unit.

  The print data generation device according to the present invention is a print data generation device that generates print data. An acquisition unit that acquires information about a plurality of print functions, and a plurality of prints based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit Determining means for determining whether to generate shared print data that can be printed with a function or to generate dedicated print data that can be printed with one print function, and based on the determination result of the determining means, the shared print data Alternatively, the dedicated print data is generated.

  In the present invention, the acquisition unit acquires information related to a plurality of printing functions. The determining means determines whether to generate shared print data that can be printed with a plurality of printing functions or dedicated print data that can be printed with one printing function, based on the information acquired by the acquiring means. The print data generation device generates shared print data or dedicated print data based on the determination result of the determination unit.

  In the print data generation apparatus according to the present invention, the determination unit determines generation of the dedicated print data when all pieces of information related to the print functions belonging to the same type among the plurality of print functions match. If the information related to the printing functions belonging to the same type does not match, the generation of the shared print data is determined.

  In the present invention, the determining means determines the generation of the dedicated print data when all the information related to the print function belonging to the same type among the plurality of print functions is identical, and the print function belonging to the same type If the pieces of information do not match, the generation of shared print data is determined.

  The print data generation apparatus according to the present invention registers a plurality of users and a plurality of printing apparatuses, acquires setting information for setting whether each printing apparatus can be used for each user, user information, Based on the setting of the setting unit, a determination unit that determines a printing device that can be used by a user related to the acquired information among the plurality of printing devices, and the acquisition unit includes the plurality of printing devices, Information relating to the printing function of the printing apparatus determined by the determining means is acquired.

  In the present invention, the setting means registers a plurality of users and a plurality of printing apparatuses, and sets whether each printing apparatus can be used or not for each user. The confirmation unit acquires user information, and determines a printing device that can be used by the user according to the acquired information among the plurality of printing devices based on the setting of the setting unit. The acquisition unit acquires information related to the printing function of the printing device determined by the determination unit among the plurality of printing devices.

  The processing apparatus according to the present invention is a processing apparatus that executes a determination process of print data that can be printed by one or a plurality of connected printing apparatuses, on the basis of information relating to a printing function of the plurality of printing apparatuses. It is characterized by comprising determining means for determining whether to generate shared print data that can be printed by the print function or to generate dedicated print data that can be printed by one print function.

  In the present invention, the deciding means generates shared print data that can be printed by a plurality of printing functions or can be printed by one printing function based on information relating to the printing functions of the plurality of printing apparatuses. Decide whether to generate dedicated print data.

  In the processing device according to the present invention, the determination unit determines the generation of the dedicated print data when the information related to the print functions belonging to the same type of the plurality of printing devices all match, and the same type The generation of the shared print data is determined when the information relating to the print function belonging to the above does not match.

  In the present invention, the determining means determines the generation of the dedicated print data when all the information related to the printing functions belonging to the same type of a plurality of printing apparatuses match, and the printing belonging to the same type If the information relating to the functions does not match, the generation of the shared print data is determined.

  The processing apparatus according to the present invention performs registration of a plurality of users and the plurality of printing apparatuses, obtains user information for each user, setting means for setting availability / non-usability of each printing apparatus, and the setting And a determining unit that determines a printing device that can be used by a user related to the acquired information among the plurality of printing devices based on setting of the unit, and the determining unit determines the printing device determined by the determining unit Whether to generate the shared print data or the dedicated print data is determined based on the information relating to the print function.

  In the present invention, the setting means registers a plurality of users and a plurality of printing apparatuses, and sets whether each printing apparatus can be used or not for each user. The determination unit acquires user information, and determines a printing device that can be used by the user according to the acquired information from the plurality of printing devices based on the setting of the setting unit. The determining unit determines whether to generate shared print data or dedicated print data based on information relating to the printing function of the printing apparatus determined by the determining unit.

  The printing method according to the present invention generates print data that can be printed by one or a plurality of printing apparatuses, and performs printing based on the generated print data. Based on the determined result, it is determined whether to generate shared print data that can be printed by a plurality of print functions or to generate dedicated print data that can be printed by one print function. Dedicated print data is generated.

  In the present invention, based on information relating to the printing function of each of the plurality of printing apparatuses, shared print data that can be printed with a plurality of printing functions is generated, or dedicated print data that can be printed with one printing function is generated. Decide whether to generate. Based on the determined result, shared print data or dedicated print data is generated.

  The printing method according to the present invention determines the generation of the dedicated print data when all the information related to the printing functions belonging to the same type of the plurality of printing apparatuses match, and the information related to the printing functions is unified. If not, the generation of the shared print data is determined.

  In the present invention, when all of the information related to the printing function belonging to the same type of a plurality of printing apparatuses match, the generation of dedicated print data is determined, and the information related to the printing function does not match Determine the generation of shared print data.

  The printing method according to the present invention performs registration of a plurality of users and the plurality of printing apparatuses, sets enable / disable of each printing apparatus for each user, obtains user information, and prints the plurality of printing apparatuses. Among the devices, the printing device that is set to be usable by the user related to the acquired information is confirmed, and the shared print data is generated based on the information related to the printing function of the confirmed printing device, or the dedicated device It is characterized by determining whether to generate print data.

  In the present invention, registration of a plurality of users and a plurality of printing apparatuses is performed, and whether each printing apparatus can be used is set for each user. User information is acquired, and among the plurality of printing apparatuses, a printing apparatus that is set to be usable by the user related to the acquired information is determined. Whether to generate shared print data or dedicated print data is determined based on the determined information relating to the printing function of the printing apparatus.

  The computer program according to the present invention is a computer that generates print data that can be printed by one or a plurality of connected printing apparatuses. The computer program performs a plurality of printing operations based on information related to a printing function of the plurality of printing apparatuses. A determination unit that determines whether to generate shared print data that can be printed by a function or dedicated print data that can be printed by a single print function, and the shared print data or the basis of a determination result of the determination unit It is characterized by functioning as means for generating dedicated print data.

  In the present invention, the computer generates shared print data that can be printed with a plurality of printing functions based on information relating to the printing functions of a plurality of printing apparatuses, or dedicated printing that can be printed with one printing function. It functions as a determination unit that determines whether to generate data and a unit that generates shared print data or dedicated print data based on the determination result of the determination unit.

  A recording medium according to the present invention records the computer program of the above-described invention.

  In the present invention, the aforementioned computer program is recorded on the recording medium. The computer reads the computer program from the recording medium, and the above-described print data generation apparatus is realized by the computer.

  According to the present invention, shared print data that can be printed with a plurality of printing functions is generated or dedicated print data that can be printed with one printing function is generated based on information related to the printing functions of each of a plurality of printing apparatuses. By determining whether or not to generate, and generating shared print data or dedicated print data based on the determination result, it is possible to generate print data that is optimal for the printing apparatus that is to execute the print processing, and the print data transmission / reception speed In addition, the printing speed can be increased.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a printing system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of printer setting processing in the server. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer registration information table. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer setting information table. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which produces | generates the printing data in PC. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of the subroutine for determining the printing data in PC. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen that receives a print setting operation. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen that receives a print setting operation. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen that receives a print setting operation. It is a figure which shows an example of the printer information which PC acquired. It is a figure which shows an example of a model information table. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial print data determination table. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print data determination table after update. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing for transmitting printer information in a server. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which accumulate | stores the print data in a server. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing for acquiring and printing print data in a printer. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which transmits the print data in a server. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a printing system according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in the PC according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in the server according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a PC according to a third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating a printing system according to an embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a printing system. The printing system 1 includes a PC 10 that is a print data generation apparatus, a server 20, and a first printer 31 to a fourth printer 34 that are printing apparatuses. The PC 10, the server 20, and the first printer 31 to the fourth printer 34 are connected by, for example, a wired or wireless LAN network 2.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the printing system according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the PC 10 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, and a RAM 103. The ROM 102 stores a control program executed by the CPU 101. The RAM 103 can temporarily store data generated during execution of the control program. The CPU 101 controls the operation of the entire PC 10 via the bus N by loading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 102 onto the RAM 103 and executing it.

  The PC 10 includes an operation unit 104 such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, a display unit 105 that displays an image, a document creation unit 106 that creates a document, and a printer information acquisition unit 107 that acquires printer information from the server 20. , A print data determination unit 108 that determines print data, a print data generation unit 109 that generates print data, and a communication I / F 110 that communicates with the server 20.

  The document creation unit 106 is an application such as MS-Word, for example, and creates a document in response to an instruction from the operation unit 104. The printer information acquisition unit 107 is, for example, a printer driver, and transmits to the server 20 requests for acquisition of printer information related to the first printer 31 to the fourth printer 34 that the user can use / cannot use. Logon information such as a logon name and password is also transmitted, and printer information corresponding to the user (see FIG. 9A) is acquired from the server 20.

  The print data determination unit 108 is, for example, a printer driver, and holds model information (see FIG. 9B) of the first printer 31 to the fourth printer 34 in advance. Based on the printer information acquired by the information acquisition unit 107, whether to obtain information related to the print function of the printer that can be used by the user, and to generate shared print data that can be printed with a plurality of print functions based on the information Whether to generate dedicated print data that can be printed with one print function is determined.

  The print data generation unit 109 is a printer driver, for example, and generates print data according to the determination result by the print data determination unit 108. The CPU 101 transmits the print data generated by the print data generation unit 109 to the server 20 via the communication I / F 110.

  The server 20 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, and a RAM 203. The ROM 202 stores a control program executed by the CPU 201. The RAM 203 can temporarily store data generated during execution of the control program. The CPU 201 controls the operation of the entire server 20 via the bus N by loading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 202 onto the RAM 203 and executing it.

  The server 20 includes a print data receiving unit 204 that receives print data transmitted from the PC 10, a print data storage unit 205 that stores print data, a print data transmission unit 206 that transmits print data to a printer, a user and each A printer setting unit 207 that registers printers and sets whether each printer can be used for each user, an information storage unit 208 that stores various registration information and printer setting information by the printer setting unit 207, and printer information Is further provided with a printer information transmission unit 209 that transmits the information to the PC 10, a PC I / F 210 that performs communication with the PC 10, and a printer I / F 211 that performs communication with the printer.

  The print data receiving unit 204 is configured to receive print data from the PC 10 via the PC I / F 210. The print data accumulation unit 205 accumulates print data received by the print data reception unit 204. The print data transmission unit 206 transmits the print data stored in the print data storage unit 205 to the corresponding printer in response to a request for acquisition of print data from any one of the first printer 31 to the fourth printer 34. It is.

  The printer setting unit 207 registers the user who uses the printing system 1 of the present embodiment and the first printer 31 to the fourth printer 34, sets whether each printer can be used or not for each user, A printer setting information table (see FIG. 5) is created. Here, examples of registered information include a user name and password of each user, a printer name and an IP address, and the like, but are not limited thereto, and may be changed as necessary.

  The information storage unit 208 is, for example, an HDD, and stores various registration information and printer setting information registered by the printer setting unit 207. In response to the printer information acquisition request from the printer information acquisition unit 107 of the PC 10, the printer information transmission unit 209 is based on the user logon information received together with the acquisition request and the printer setting information stored in the information storage unit 208. Thus, a printer that can be used by the user is determined, printer information corresponding to the user is generated, and the printer information is transmitted to the PC 10 via the PC I / F 210.

  Each of the first printer 31 to the fourth printer 34 includes a CPU 311, a ROM 312, and a RAM 313. The ROM 312 stores a control program executed by the CPU 311. The RAM 313 can temporarily store data generated during execution of the control program. The CPU 311 controls the operation of the entire printer via the bus N by loading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 312 onto the RAM 313 and executing it.

  Each of the first printer 31 to the fourth printer 34 includes a communication I / F 314 that performs communication with the server 20, a logon processing unit 315 that performs user logon processing, and a print data reception unit that receives print data from the server 20. 316, a printing unit 317 that prints based on the received print data, and a user I / F 318 that is operated by the user.

  The logon processing unit 315 processes the logon information input by the user via the user I / F 318. The print data receiving unit 316 transmits a print data acquisition request to the server 20 via the communication I / F 314, and simultaneously transmits log-on information by the log-on processing unit 315, and prints corresponding to the user from the server 20. Receive data. The printing unit 317 performs printing based on the print data received by the print data receiving unit 316.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of printer setting processing in the server 20. As shown in FIG. 3, in the server 20, the CPU 201 determines whether or not there is a printer registration instruction from the user (step S31), and determines that there is no printer registration instruction (step S31: NO), the process proceeds to step S34 described later.

  When the CPU 201 determines that there is an instruction for printer registration (step S31: YES), the CPU 201 instructs the printer setting unit 207 to register the printer. In accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201, the printer setting unit 207 registers information such as a printer name, model, and IP address, and registers a printer used in the printing system (step S32).

  The CPU 201 determines whether or not to continue printer registration (step S33). If the CPU 201 determines to continue printer registration (step S33: YES), the printer 201 instructs the printer setting unit 207 to register the printer. The process returns to step S32.

  If the CPU 201 determines not to continue printer registration (step S33: NO), the CPU 201 determines whether there is a user registration instruction from the user (step S34).

  If the CPU 201 determines that there is no user registration instruction (step S34: NO), the process proceeds to step S37 described later.

  If the CPU 201 determines that there is an instruction for user registration (step S34: YES), the CPU 201 instructs the printer setting unit 207 to register the user. In accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201, the printer setting unit 207 registers, for example, a user name, a logon name, and a password, and registers a user who uses the printing system (step S35).

  The CPU 201 determines whether or not to continue user registration (step S36). If the CPU 201 determines to continue to register the user (step S36: YES), the CPU 201 instructs the printer setting unit 207 to register the user. The process returns to step S35.

  If the CPU 201 determines not to continue the user registration (step S36: NO), the CPU 201 determines whether there is a printer setting instruction from the user (step S37).

  If the CPU 201 determines that there is no instruction for printer setting from the user (step S37: NO), the process ends.

  If the CPU 201 determines that there is an instruction for printer setting from the user (step S37: YES), the CPU 201 instructs the printer setting unit 207 to set the printer. In accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201, the printer setting unit 207 sets whether each registered printer can be used or not for each registered user, and performs printer setting (step S38).

  The CPU 201 determines whether or not to continue to set a printer that can be printed by the user (step S39). If it is determined that the printer that can be continuously printed is set (step S39: YES), the printer setting unit The printer setting is instructed to 207, and the process returns to step S38.

  If the CPU 201 determines not to continue setting a printer that can print to the user (step S39: NO), the CPU 201 ends the process.

  Thus, the printer registration information and user registration information registered by the printer setting unit 207 and the set printer setting information are stored in the information storage unit 208. Examples of the printer registration information and printer setting information stored in the information storage unit 208 include the printer registration information table shown in FIG. 4 and the printer setting information table shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the printer registration information table. As shown in FIG. 4, in the printer registration information table, the printer name, IP address, and model name of each printer used in the printing system are written.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the printer setting information table. As shown in FIG. 5, the printer setting information table includes a user name, a logon name, a password, and availability / impossibility of each of the first printer 31 to the fourth printer 34 for each user who uses the printing system 1. Information is written.

  Specifically, the printers usable by the user with the user name “A” are the first printer 31 and the third printer 33, and the printers usable by the user with the user name “I” are the first printer 31 and the second printer 33. The printer 32 that can be used by the user with the user name “U” is the first printer 31, the second printer 32, and the third printer 33, and the printer that can be used by the user with the user name “E” is the third printer. The second printer 32 and the fourth printer 34 are the printer 33 and the fourth printer 34 that can be used by the user with the user name “O”.

  Next, processing in the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for generating print data in the PC 10. In the PC 10, as shown in FIG. 6, the document creation unit 106 creates a print document in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101 (step S61).

  The CPU 101 receives a print setting operation by the user (step S62). 8A to 8C are diagrams illustrating examples of UI screens for accepting print setting operations. FIG. 8A shows the default UI screen, FIG. 8B shows the UI screen when the user sets the N-up print item as 4-Up, and FIG. 8C shows the case where saddle stitch printing is selected by the user. A UI screen is shown.

  The CPU 101 determines whether or not a print data generation instruction has been received from the user (step S63). If it is determined that a print data generation instruction has not been received from the user (step S63: NO), the print data generation instruction Such determination is repeated until it is accepted.

  If the CPU 101 determines that an instruction to generate print data has been received from the user (step S63: YES), it instructs the printer information acquisition unit 107 to acquire printer information. The printer information acquisition unit 107 transmits a printer information acquisition request to the server 20 via the communication I / F 110 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101, and at the same time transmits logon information such as a user logon name and password together (step S1). S64).

  The CPU 101 determines whether or not the printer information has been received from the server 20 (step S65). If it is determined that the printer information has not been received from the server 20 (step S65: NO), the CPU 101 does not receive the printer information. Repeat this determination.

  When the CPU 101 determines that the printer information has been received from the server 20 (step S65: YES), the CPU 101 instructs the print data determination unit 108 to determine the print data. The print data determination unit 108 calls a subroutine (see FIG. 7) related to determination of print data in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101, and determines what print data is to be generated (step S66).

  The CPU 101 instructs the print data generation unit 109 to generate print data. The print data generation unit 109 generates print data based on the determination result in step S66 according to the instruction from the CPU 101 (step S67).

  The CPU 101 transmits the generated print data and user information such as a user logon name and password to the server 20 via the communication I / F 110 (step S68), and ends the process.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a subroutine processing procedure for determining print data in the PC 10. As shown in FIG. 7, the print data determination unit 108 uses the printer information (see FIG. 9A) acquired by the printer information acquisition unit 107 and the model information table held (see FIG. 9B). Information relating to the print function of the possible printer is acquired (step S661). 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating examples of printer information acquired from the server 20 and a model information table held therein.

  FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating an example of printer information acquired by the PC 10. In FIG. 9A, the printer information is printer information corresponding to the user whose user name is “O” in FIG. 5, and the printers usable by the user are the second printer 32 and the model whose model name is “222”. This is the fourth printer 34 whose name is “444”.

  FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating an example of a model information table. In FIG. 9B, the model names of the first printer 31 to the fourth printer 34 and a plurality of types of printing functions such as “color / monochrome”, “color profile”, “N-Up”, “saddle stitch”, and the like. Information is written. From FIG. 9B, information related to the printing functions of the second printer 32 and the fourth printer 34 that can be used by the user “O” is obtained.

  As described above, based on FIGS. 9A and 9B, it is possible to acquire information related to the printing function of the printer that can be used by the user.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the print data determination unit 108 determines whether all pieces of information related to the same type of print function of each printer that can be used by the user match based on the acquired information related to the print function. (Step S662). For example, it is determined whether the second printer 32 and the fourth printer 34 have the same color / monochrome function.

  If the print data determination unit 108 determines that all the information related to the same type of print function of each printer matches (step S662: YES), the print data determination unit 108 determines to generate dedicated print data that can be printed by the function (step S662). S663), the process returns.

  If the print data determination unit 108 determines that the information related to the same type of print function of each printer does not match (step S662: NO), the print data determination unit 108 determines to generate shared print data that can be printed with a plurality of functions. (Step S664), and the process returns.

  Here, the print data determination unit 108 determines print data for each type of print function to be considered. For example, if the only print function to be considered is “color / monochrome”, it is determined as monochrome print data or color print data. On the other hand, when there are a plurality of print functions to be considered, the processing in steps S662, S663, and S664 is repeatedly executed according to the number of print functions to be considered. For example, since the printing function shown in FIG. 9B includes four types of color / monochrome, color profile, N-Up, and saddle stitching, whether or not the information related to the printing function is the same for each of these four types. To determine whether the print data is dedicated print data or shared print data.

  Specifically, when the user is the user “O” in FIG. 5 and the printer information acquisition unit 107 acquires printer information as shown in FIG. 9A from the server 20, the print data determination unit 108 Based on the printer information, the second printer 32 with the model name “222” and the fourth printer 34 with the model name “444” are determined as usable printers, and are stored in the model information table as shown in FIG. 9B. Based on this, information related to the printing functions of the second printer 32 and the fourth printer 34 is acquired. As shown in FIG. 9B, the second printer 32 can be printed in monochrome, can be printed in N-Up and saddle stitching, and the fourth printer 34 can be printed in monochrome, can be printed in N-Up and middle. It is impossible to print with a binding.

  As described above, the print data determination unit 108 determines that the information regarding the print function is the same because the second printer 32 and the fourth printer 34 are all monochrome functions with respect to the color / monochrome function. Print data, i.e., use of monochrome functions to generate dedicated print data. As for the N-Up function, when the print setting is set to N-Up by the user “O” in step S62, the second printer 32 can print with the N-Up function, while the fourth printer 34 Since printing with the N-Up function is impossible, it is determined that the information related to the printing function does not match, and the print data subjected to the layout processing for N-Up, that is, the print data having the N-Up function is also included. Decide to generate shared print data that can be printed even if it is not. Further, regarding the saddle stitch function, when the print setting is set by the user “O” in step S62, the second printer 32 can print with the saddle stitch function, while the fourth printer 34 has the saddle stitch function. Since it is impossible to print, it is determined that the information related to the print function does not match, and print data that has been subjected to the saddle stitch layout process, that is, with or without the saddle stitch function, can be printed. Decide to generate shared print data.

  Further, the determination result determined in this way may be generated as a print data determination table as shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D, for example. When the next print job is executed, a new determination result may be written in the previous print data determination table and updated. FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial print data determination table, and FIG. 9D is a diagram illustrating an example of an updated print data determination table.

  On the other hand, when the user is the user “E” in FIG. 5, usable printers are the third printer 33 with the model name “333” and the fourth printer 34 with the model name “444”. Based on the model information of FIG. 9B, information related to the printing functions of the third printer 33 and the fourth printer 34 is acquired.

  Specifically, the third printer 33 can print in color, the color profile is profile B, cannot be printed with N-Up and saddle stitching, and the fourth printer 34 can print in monochrome. Yes, there is no color profile, and printing is impossible with N-Up and saddle stitching. As described above, the print data determination unit 108 determines that the information regarding the print function does not match because the third printer 33 is the color function and the fourth printer 34 is the monochrome function for the color / monochrome function. Then, it is determined to generate color print data, that is, shared print data that can be printed by either a color function or a monochrome function. Regarding the color profile, since the third printer 33 is the profile B and the fourth printer 34 has no color profile, it is determined that the information relating to the print function does not match, and print data using the profile B, that is, shared printing Decide to generate data. As for the N-Up function and the saddle stitch function, if the print setting is set to N-Up or saddle stitch by the user “E” in step S62, all of the third printer 33 and the fourth printer 34 are N- Since the Up function and the saddle stitch function cannot be printed, it is determined that the information related to the print function is the same, and the print data subjected to the N-Up and saddle stitch layout processing, that is, the N-Up function and It is determined to generate dedicated print data dedicated to those that do not have the saddle stitch function.

When the user is the user “I” in FIG. 5, usable printers are the first printer 31 with the model name “111” and the second printer 32 with the model name “222”. Based on the model information of FIG. 9B, information related to the printing functions of the first printer 31 and the second printer 32 is acquired.

  Regarding the N-Up function and the saddle stitch function, when the print setting is set to N-Up or saddle stitch by the user “I” in step S62, the first printer 31 and the second printer 32 are all N-Up functions. Since it is possible to print with the saddle stitch function, it is determined that the information related to the print function is the same, and print data that has not been subjected to N-Up and saddle stitch layout processing, that is, the N-Up function and saddle stitch function. It is decided to generate dedicated print data dedicated to those that have the function. Specifically, when N-Up printing is set by the user, a command for instructing the printer to perform N-Up layout processing inside the printer, which has not been subjected to N-Up layout processing, is added. Determine the print data. Similarly, when the saddle stitch printing is set, the print data to which a command for instructing the printer to perform the saddle stitch layout process is added to the printer which has not performed the saddle stitch layout process is determined.

  Here, in the case where all printers that can print are printers having an N-Up function and a saddle stitch function, print data that has not been subjected to layout processing for the N-Up and saddle stitches, that is, the N-Up function and the saddle stitch function. The following effects can be obtained by using dedicated print data dedicated to those having functions. Since the layout process is performed on the printer side, the transmission / reception and processing speed are faster than the shared print data subjected to the layout process on the PC side. In the case of saddle stitching, the layout can be changed depending on the number of sheets that can be stapled by performing layout processing on the printer side. For example, the N-Up aggregate number is automatically set according to the upper limit of the number of sheets that can be stapled. For example, when the upper limit of the number of sheets is exceeded at 2-Up, the printer can automatically change to 4-Up.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for transmitting printer information in the server 20. As shown in FIG. 10, in the server 20, the CPU 201 determines whether or not a printer information acquisition request has been received from the PC 10 (step S <b> 101). If it is determined that the printer information acquisition request has not been received from the PC 10 (step S101: NO), such determination is repeated until the printer information acquisition request is received.

  When the CPU 201 determines that the printer information acquisition request from the PC 10 has been received (step S101: YES), the CPU 201 executes the logon process based on the logon information received together with the acquisition request, and identifies the user who transmitted the acquisition request. Is executed (step S102).

  Based on the printer setting information table stored in the information storage unit 208, the CPU 201 determines a printer that can be used by the specified user, and generates printer information corresponding to the user, for example, as shown in FIG. 9A. In step S103, the printer information transmission unit 209 is instructed to transmit printer information.

  The printer information transmission unit 209 transmits the generated printer information to the PC via the PC I / F 210 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201 (step S104). The CPU 201 ends the process.

  Thereby, the server 20 can transmit the printer information corresponding to the user to the PC 10 in response to the user's request from the PC 10.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for accumulating print data in the server 20. As shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 201 determines whether there is print data to be received in the PC 10 (step S111). If it is determined that there is no print data to be received in the PC 10 (step S111: NO), such determination is repeated until there is print data to be received in the PC 10.

  When the CPU 201 determines that there is print data to be received in the PC 10 (step S111: YES), the CPU 201 instructs the print data reception unit 204 to receive the print data.

  The print data receiving unit 204 receives print data from the PC 10 via the PC I / F 210 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201 (step S112).

  The CPU 201 identifies the user who transmitted the print data based on the logon information received together with the print data (step S113), and stores the received print data in the print data storage unit 205 in association with the user ( Step S114) and the process is terminated.

  As a result, the server 20 can receive print data from the PC 10, store it in the print data storage unit 205, and transmit the print data in response to an acquisition request from the printer.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for acquiring and printing print data in the printer. The processing in the printer will be described by taking the case where printing is performed by the second printer 32 as an example.

  In the second printer 32, when the user inputs logon information such as a logon name and password via the user I / F 318, the CPU 311 instructs the logon processing unit 315 to log on the user. The logon processing unit 315 performs user logon processing in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 311 (step S121).

  The CPU 311 transmits a print data acquisition request to the server 20 (step 122), and simultaneously transmits user logon information.

  The CPU 311 determines whether there is print data to be received in the server 20 (step S123). When it is determined that there is no print data to be received in the server 20 (step S123: NO), such processing is repeated until there is print data.

  When the CPU 311 determines that there is print data to be received in the server 20 (step S123: YES), the CPU 311 instructs the print data reception unit 316 to receive the print data. The print data receiving unit 316 receives print data in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 311 (step S124).

  The CPU 311 instructs the printing unit 317 to print. The printing unit 317 performs printing based on the received print data in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 311 (step S125). The CPU 311 ends the process.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing for transmitting print data in the server 20. In the present embodiment, processing relating to transmission of print data to the printer is executed by the print data receiving unit 206, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the print data receiving unit 206 determines whether or not a print data acquisition request from the printer has been received (step S131). If it is determined that a print data acquisition request from the printer has not been received (step S131: NO), such processing is repeated until a print data acquisition request is received.

  If it is determined that a print data acquisition request has been received from the printer (step S131: YES), a logon process is executed based on the user logon information received together with the acquisition request, and the request is stored in the information storage unit 208. Based on the registered user registration information, the user who made the acquisition request is identified (step S132).

  The print data receiving unit 206 specifies print data corresponding to the specified user from the print data stored in the print data storage unit 205 (step S133), and transmits the specified print data for printing (step S134). ), The process is terminated.

  In the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, information on a user who uses the printing system 1 and a printer that can be used by the user is registered in the server 20 in advance. When the PC 10 tries to generate print data, it sends a printer information acquisition request and user logon information to the server 20. When the server 20 receives the printer information acquisition request from the PC 10, the user logon process is performed based on the user logon information received together with the acquisition request, and the user is registered based on the user and printer information registered in advance. The printer that can be used by the user is determined, printer information is generated and transmitted to the PC 10. When the PC 10 receives the printer information from the server 20, the PC 10 acquires information related to the available printer printing functions from the model information of each printer that is held, and all the printing functions of the same type of each printer match. If the print function is used, print data that can be printed with the print function is generated. If the print functions of the same type of each printer do not match, print data that can be printed with the print function is generated and the generated print data is generated. Data and user logon information are transmitted to the server 20. The server 20 performs logon processing based on the user logon information received together with the print data, identifies the user, and stores the print data received from the PC 10 in association with the user.

  As a result, print data can be generated based on the print function of an available printer, so that print data that is optimal for the printer that is actually used can be generated, and the speed of data transmission / reception and print processing is increased. be able to.

  When the printing process is performed, a user logon process is performed on the printer side, and a print data acquisition request and user logon information are transmitted to the server 20. The server 20 identifies the user based on the user logon information from the printer, identifies the print data stored in association with the user, and transmits the identified print data to the printer. The printer receives print data from the server 20 and performs printing based on the print data.

  As a result, the print data generated by the PC 10 is accumulated in the server 20, and the printer that performs printing acquires the print data from the server 20 and performs printing, so that a printer that cannot print due to a failure such as out of paper / out of toner or paper jam occurs. Printing can be avoided and the server 20 can manage print data, thereby managing the number of prints for each user.

(Embodiment 2)
In the second embodiment, the print data determination unit 108 in the first embodiment is provided on the server side. In the following description, for the same configuration as in the first embodiment, the first embodiment is referred to, and the description thereof is omitted. Note that components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the printing system 1 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, the difference from the first embodiment lies in the print data generation requesting unit 107 a and the print data generation unit 109 a in the PC 10, and the printer information generation unit 209 a and the print data determination unit 212 in the server 20.

  In the PC 10, the print data generation request unit 107 a is, for example, a printer driver, and transmits a print data generation request to the server 20. At the same time, print settings by the user and logon information such as the user's logon name and password are also combined. To send.

  In the server 20, the printer information generation unit 209 a adds the received user logon information and the printer setting information stored in the information storage unit 208 according to the print data generation request from the print data generation request unit 107 a of the PC 10. Based on this, a printer that can be used by the user is determined, and printer information corresponding to the user is generated.

  The print data determination unit 212 stores model information (see FIG. 9B) of the first printer 31 to the fourth printer 34 in advance, and generates the model information and printer information generation unit 209a of each stored printer. Based on the printer information obtained, information related to the printing function of the printer that can be used by the user is obtained, and based on the information, shared print data that can be printed with a plurality of printing functions is generated, or printing is performed with one printing function. It is determined whether to generate possible dedicated print data.

  The print data generation unit 109a in the PC 10 is, for example, a printer driver, and receives the determination result from the print data determination unit 212 from the server 20, and generates shared print data or dedicated print data according to the determination result. The CPU 101 transmits the print data generated by the print data generation unit 109 a to the server 20 via the communication I / F 110.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in the PC 10 according to the second embodiment. In the PC 10, as shown in FIG. 15, the document creation unit 106 creates a print document in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101 (step S151).

  The CPU 101 receives a print setting operation by the user (step S152). The CPU 1 determines whether or not a print data generation instruction has been received from the user (step S153). If it is determined that a print data generation instruction has not been received from the user (step S153: NO), the CPU 1 issues a print data generation instruction. Such determination is repeated until it is accepted.

  When the CPU 101 determines that the print data generation instruction has been received from the user (step S153: YES), the CPU 101 instructs the print data generation request unit 107a to transmit the print data generation request. The print data generation requesting unit 107a transmits a print data generation request to the server 20 via the communication I / F 110 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101, and at the same time, print settings by the user and logon information such as the user's logon name and password. Are also transmitted (step S154).

  The CPU 101 determines whether or not a print data determination result has been received from the server 20 (step S155). If it is determined that the print data determination result has not been received from the server 20 (step S155: NO), printing is performed. Such determination is repeated until a data determination result is received.

  When it is determined that the print data determination result has been received from the server 20 (step S155: YES), the CPU 101 instructs the print data generation unit 109a to generate print data. The print data generation unit 109a generates print data based on the received determination result in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101 (step S156).

  The CPU 101 transmits the generated print data and user information such as a user logon name and password to the server 20 via the communication I / F 110 (step S157), and ends the process.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in the server 20 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, in the server 20, the CPU 201 determines whether a print data generation request has been received from the PC 10 (step S161). If it is determined that a print data generation request has not been received from the PC 10 (step S161: NO), such determination is repeated until a print data generation request is received.

  If the CPU 201 determines that a print data generation request has been received from the PC 10 (step S161: YES), the CPU 201 can use the user based on the received logon information and the printer setting information table stored in the information storage unit 208. A correct printer is determined, and printer information corresponding to the user, for example, as shown in FIG. 9A is generated (step S162).

  The CPU 201 instructs the print data determination unit 212 to determine print data. The print data determination unit 212 calls a subroutine (see FIG. 7) related to determination of print data in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201, and determines what print data is to be generated (step S163).

  CPU201 transmits the determination result determined in step S163 to PC10 via PC I / F210 (step S164), and complete | finishes a process.

  For example, when the user “O” tries to print without setting N-Up and saddle stitching, the server 20 notifies the PC of the “color / monochrome” item “monochrome only” in the print data determination table as shown in FIG. 9D. To do. When the user “O” sets N-Up and tries to print, the server 20 sets the “color / monochrome” items “monochrome only” and “N-Up” items in the print data determination table as shown in FIG. 9D. Notify PC of “shared”. In this way, the amount of information in the print data determination table for the PC 10 can be limited, and the information processing burden on the PC 10 can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, providing the print data determination unit 212 on the server side has a large burden of selecting an appropriate print data type from among a large number of combinations of printer functions and combinations of setting contents at the time of printing. The PC can be released from processing.

(Embodiment 3)
The printing system 1 according to the third embodiment is configured such that each computer program for performing the operation can be provided by a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Further, it may be configured to be downloaded from an external device.

  Here, a program for performing an operation on a PC will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to the server 20. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the PC according to Embodiment 3. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the PC 10 further includes a recording medium reading device 111. When generating print data, the PC 10 determines whether to generate shared print data or dedicated print data based on information related to the printing function of the printer, and generates shared print data or dedicated print data. A portable recording medium A in which a program to be recorded is recorded is inserted into the recording medium reader 111, and the CPU 101 installs the program in the ROM 102, for example. Such a program is loaded into the RAM 103 and executed. Thereby, it functions as a print data generation apparatus of the present invention.

  The recording medium may be a so-called program medium, a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk and a hard disk, and a disk system of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD, It may be a medium carrying a fixed program code including a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) / optical card or a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash ROM or the like.

  It may be a medium that carries program code in a fluid manner so as to download the program code from a network. When the program is downloaded from the communication network in this way, the download program may be stored in the main device in advance or may be installed from another recording medium. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  In the printing system 1 according to the embodiment, the server 20 for managing printing is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the PC 10 may function as a server. The first printer 31 to the fourth printer 34 only need to have a printing function and a communication function, and may further include other functions such as a copying function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function.

  In the above-described embodiment, logon information including a logon name and a password is used for specifying a user. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other specifying means may be used. For example, the user may be specified by an ID card or the like.

  In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which printing is performed by selecting one printer from a plurality of printers. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of printers can be divided by dividing a print job as necessary. May be selected for printing.

  The above embodiments are merely examples and should not be considered as limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the meanings described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 Printing system 10 PC
20 server 31 first printer 32 second printer 33 third printer 34 fourth printer 101, 201, 311 CPU
107 Print data acquisition unit (acquisition means)
108 Print data determination unit (determination means)
109 Print data generation unit (generation means)
207 Printer setting unit (setting unit)
209 Printer information transmission unit (confirmation means)

Claims (14)

In a printing system comprising a plurality of printing devices and print data generating means for generating print data printable by one or more printing devices,
Whether to generate shared print data that can be printed by a plurality of printing functions or dedicated print data that can be printed by one printing function is determined based on information related to the printing functions of each of the plurality of printing apparatuses. A determination means,
The printing system, wherein the print data generation unit generates the shared print data or the dedicated print data based on a determination result of the determination unit.   The determination means determines the generation of the dedicated print data when all the information related to the print function belonging to the same type of the plurality of printing apparatuses match, and the information related to the print function belonging to the same type The printing system according to claim 1, wherein when the data does not match, the generation of the shared print data is determined. A setting means for registering a plurality of users and the plurality of printing apparatuses, and setting enable / disable of each printing apparatus for each user;
Obtaining means of a user, and based on the setting of the setting means, a confirmation means for confirming a printing apparatus usable by the user related to the obtained information among the plurality of printing apparatuses,
The determining unit determines whether to generate the shared print data or the dedicated print data based on information related to the printing function of the printing apparatus determined by the determining unit. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2. In a print data generation device that generates print data,
Acquisition means for acquiring information relating to a plurality of printing functions;
Determining means for determining whether to generate shared print data that can be printed by a plurality of printing functions or dedicated print data that can be printed by one printing function, based on the information acquired by the acquiring means; Prepared,
The print data generation apparatus, wherein the shared print data or the dedicated print data is generated based on a determination result of the determination means.   The determination unit determines generation of the dedicated print data when all the information related to the print function belonging to the same type among the plurality of print functions matches, and the information related to the print function belonging to the same type The print data generation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein generation of the shared print data is determined when they do not match. A setting means for registering a plurality of users and a plurality of printing apparatuses and setting availability / impossibility of each printing apparatus for each user;
Obtaining means of a user, and based on the setting of the setting means, a confirmation means for confirming a printing apparatus usable by the user related to the obtained information among the plurality of printing apparatuses,
The print data according to claim 4, wherein the acquisition unit acquires information related to a print function of the printing device determined by the determination unit among the plurality of printing devices. Generator. In a processing apparatus that executes a process for determining print data that can be printed by one or more connected printing apparatuses,
Determination to determine whether to generate shared print data that can be printed with a plurality of printing functions or dedicated print data that can be printed with one printing function, based on information related to the printing functions of the plurality of printing apparatuses A processing apparatus comprising means.   The determination means determines the generation of the dedicated print data when all the information related to the print function belonging to the same type of the plurality of printing apparatuses match, and the information related to the print function belonging to the same type 8. The processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein generation of the shared print data is determined when they do not match. A setting means for registering a plurality of users and the plurality of printing apparatuses, and setting enable / disable of each printing apparatus for each user;
Obtaining means of a user, and based on the setting of the setting means, a confirmation means for confirming a printing apparatus usable by the user related to the obtained information among the plurality of printing apparatuses,
The determining unit determines whether to generate the shared print data or the dedicated print data based on information related to the printing function of the printing apparatus determined by the determining unit. The processing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8. In a printing method for generating print data that can be printed by one or a plurality of printing apparatuses and performing printing based on the generated print data,
Determine whether to generate shared print data that can be printed with a plurality of print functions or dedicated print data that can be printed with one print function, based on information related to the print function of each of a plurality of printing apparatuses,
A printing method characterized in that the shared print data or the dedicated print data is generated based on the determined result.   When all the information related to the printing function belonging to the same type of the plurality of printing apparatuses match, the generation of the dedicated print data is determined, and when the information related to the printing function does not match, the shared printing The printing method according to claim 7, wherein generation of data is determined. Register a plurality of users and the plurality of printing devices, set availability / non-usability of each printing device for each user,
Acquire user information, determine a printing device that can be used by the user related to the acquired information among the plurality of printing devices,
9. The printing according to claim 7, wherein whether to generate the shared print data or to generate the dedicated print data is determined based on information related to the printing function of the determined printing apparatus. Method. In a computer that generates print data that can be printed by one or more connected printing devices,
Computer
Determination to determine whether to generate shared print data that can be printed with a plurality of printing functions or dedicated print data that can be printed with one printing function, based on information related to the printing functions of the plurality of printing apparatuses Means,
A computer program that functions as means for generating the shared print data or the dedicated print data based on a determination result of the determination means.   14. A computer-readable recording medium in which the computer program according to claim 13 is recorded.

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